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SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
The specific objective of the project is to strengthen the community tourism initiative Tour de los Dones on Tierra Bomba Island (Cartagena, Colombia) through business mentorship, professional marketing assistance, and equipment provision.
This support will enable the achievement of the general objectives set by the community leaders who initiated this pilot:
Awaken internal capabilities, self-esteem, and pride within the Tierra Bomba community.
Generate a dignified, stable, and permanent income for 10 families on Tierra Bomba Island.
Create an organized and competitive community-based tourism offering so that visitors to Colombia have the opportunity to make a positive impact during their visit.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Maximum 15 lines)
Tierra Bomba is a 1,900-hectare island located just 10 minutes by boat from Cartagena de Indias, a renowned tourist destination in Colombia. It boasts 43 km of stunning coastline, lush vegetation, and a rich historical heritage, including two colonial fortifications that once defended Cartagena. The island is home to an Afro-Caribbean native community with deep-rooted traditions in fishing and exceptional seafood preparation.
A characterization study conducted by the local Rotary Club in 2019, based on official sources, revealed that 87% of its 10,000+ inhabitants live below the poverty line (a family of four living on less than USD 430 per month, according to DANE 2023).
To enable the local population to lead the island's tourism potential, community leaders, organized under the Unión de Tierra Bomba cooperative and supported by the Dones de Misericordia foundation, launched a community adventure tourism project in 2022 with a social impact focus.
The Tour de los Dones consists of guided tours led by locals, either on bicycles or on foot, through the island's trails and hidden treasures. With Rotary's support, the project will scale its impact and growth through mentorship, equipment provision, and professional assistance, positioning the Tour de los Dones as a must-visit experience for those arriving in Cartagena.
PLEASE DESCRIBE: WHAT NEEDS WERE IDENTIFIED? HOW WILL THE PROJECT ADDRESS THESE NEEDS? WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT? PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES. (Maximum 15 lines)
Currently, the Tour de los Dones operates with 10 motivated volunteer leaders, 12 bicycles, basic food equipment, and minimal social media presence, enabling them to conduct over 30 guided tours to date.
To reach its goal of attracting 60 visitors per month, the project requires funding for one year to support:
Business mentorship for planning and monitoring business strategies - USD 9,000
Training in customer service, marketing, commercial strategies, and bilingual skills - USD 12,000
Marketing budget for social media advertising and promotional materials - USD 9,000
Equipment provision: Expanding the bicycle fleet, upgrading food service supplies, and providing support materials - USD 19,000
HOW WILL THE PROJECT ADDRESS THESE NEEDS?
The project's resources will be allocated to meet these needs, amplifying the ongoing efforts of the organized community and ensuring that for one intensive year, the community receives the necessary mentorship, training, and support to enhance the business's competitiveness in the tourism market. (See previous table).
BENEFICIARIES
This initiative will directly address the urgent economic needs of 10 families involved in the project. Additionally, economic surplus will be allocated to an educational initiative on the island benefiting over 100 young children (as stipulated in the cooperative's statutes).
Furthermore, the project will enhance community resilience and preserve the cultural heritage of the entire 10,000-inhabitant island community.
SUSTAINABILITY
The sustainability of the Tour de los Dones is ensured through self-sustaining operations, reinvestment of profits, and continuous improvement in competitiveness. Once Rotary's financial support ends, the project will be maintained through revenue generated from the tours, which will increase due to the digital marketing training, quality management skills, and English proficiency provided to the tour operators, helping attract more tourists.
Additionally, the business model includes the gradual expansion of product offerings, enabling the scaling and diversification of income streams, ensuring the project's long-term sustainability and growth.
Furthermore, the project and the cooperative leaders behind it have ongoing support from the Dones de Misericordia Foundation, an organization with over 20 years of continuous work on the island.
IS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED?
The community is the main actor and owner of the initiative. The project was born as a community-driven effort operated by the Unión de Tierra Bomba Cooperative, which is set to become the next Rotary Community Corps (RCC).
The project has the endorsement of the island's community council and is integrated into the broader initiative "Tierra Bomba Me Enamora", a multi-stakeholder project that brings together the National Navy, district authorities, tourism industry representatives on the island, and community councils of neighboring island towns.
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